Method of and apparatus for making bags



METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BAGS Filed March 25, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet l INV ENT OR.

caw m Nofv. l, 1943. L. B. EATQN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BAGSFiled March 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @8m-q i6, i943. L. B.EATON METHOD OF' AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING BAGS Filed March 25, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet 5 patented Non idg, lidi@ ist PIE'EHD @F AND S MTAKNG BAGSLewis E. Eaton, Quincy, Masa, assigner to Pneumatic Scale Corporation,Limited,

l@ Ciaims.

This invention relates to a method of and to apparatus for making bags,and particularly tea bags.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedconstruction of bag making machine for forming, filling and closingcontainera of the envelope type, and, in which provision is made forincorporating a handle comprising a string and a tag in each bag duringthe manufacture thereof in a novel, economical and superior manner,

A further object of the invention is to provide a novei and improvedmethod of producing individual lled and closed bags of the envelope typewherein a handle comprising a string and a tag may be attached to eachbag during the process of a manufacture thereof in an eicient,economical, rapid, and practical manner.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the bag making machine and in themethod, and in the various structures, arrangements, and combinations ofparts hereinafter described and particularly dened in the claims at theend of this specication.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of a teabagging machine embodying the present invention, some of the parts beingshown in crosssection; Fig. 2 is a view in iront elevation and partly incross-section as viewed from the line illi2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a planView detail of the tag feeding and attaching mechanism shown in Fig, i;Figs. 4- and 5 are enlarged detail views in side and front elevationsrespectively of a string clamping and supporting unit to be referred to;Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional detail taken on the line fri-t of Fig, 4illustrating the string severing blade; and Figs. 7 and 8 arediagrammatic views showing the parts in dierent positions of operationand illustrating the present method of attaching a handle comprising astring and tag to each bag during the manufacture thereof.

In general the present invention contemplates a method of and apparatusfor making individual bags, such as tea bags, from an elongated web orstrip of bag forming material, and in which provision is made forincorporating a handle comprising a string and a tag to each bag duringthe production thereof.

l'n the illustrated embodiment of the invention, provision is made forfolding the web longitudinally and for intermittently advancing the weba predetermined distance each cycle of operation of the machine intooperative position to the heat sealing mechanism. The heat sealingmechanism preferably comprises a pair of cooperating L-shaped membersarranged to seal the web along a transverse zone and along an adjacentlongitudinal zone to form a bag section unsealed along one transversezone through which the tea or other commodity may be introduced.Thereafter the web or strip is again advanced a distance of one bagsection whereupon a succeeding lsealing operation is arranged to sealthe open transverse side of the irst bag section and to partially form asecond bag, thus forming a series of connected bag sections in stripform during successive sealing operations.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made forattaching a handle comprising a string and a tag to each bag during theprocess of manufacturing the bags, as above described, by mechanismincluding means for inserting a portion of a continuous length of stringbetween the open edge of the elongated web and in operative position tobe engaged by the sealing members to seal the inserted string portionbetween the sides of the web during the sealing operation. Mechanism isalso provided for attaching tags to the lengths of string extending fromsuch sealed portions of the web.

In accordance with the present method, the string is inserted betweenthe open edge of the strip to be sealed therein in a manner such thatone inserting operation provides a length oi string extending fromadjacent corners of a pair of connected bag sections. In practice, thecontinuous length of string is inserted into the open edge of the web ata point adjacent alternate transverse sealed portions or Zones of theweb, and, the strand or loop of string extending from one sealed portionto the next is provided with two tags so that upon subsequent severanceof a bag section from the strip, and severance of the strand of stringbetween the two tags attached thereto, each bag is provided With itsindividual string and tag. An important advantage of the hereindescribed method, in addition to the expedience effected in providingtwo connected bag sections with strings and tags in one operation,resides in the fact that the inserting mechanism is enabled to operateat one half the rate of speed of the relatively rapidly moving andintermittently operated strip feeding and bag sealing mechanisms, thusallowing ampie time for extending the strand from one sealed portion,attaching the tags thereto, and again inserting the continuous'lcngth ofstring into the open edge of the web without reducing the normal rate ofspeed of the bag making machine,

Since the present invention resides more particularly in the string andtag attaching mechanisms as incorporated in a bag forming, fllling andsealing machine of the intermittently oper ated type for producingenvelope type bags in strip form, the bag forming, filling, and sealingmechanism may comprise any usual or preferred mechanisms now provided onexisting bag making machines, and, such mechanisms have been hereinillustrated and are hereinafter described with sufficient particularityto enable the present invention to be understood.

Referring now to the drawings, in general, the present bag forming andfilling machine is provided with web withdrawing mechanism, indicatedgenerally at lil, arranged to withdraw a predetermined length of web orbag forming material I2 from a supply roll I 4 thereof. The bag formingmaterial I2, preferably comprising a porous fibrous material containinga thermoplastic, pressure responsive, binding material, is then advancedpast bag forming means which may comprise an elongated hollow member orlling tube I5, V-shaped in cross section, over which the web is drawn tofold the web longitudinally along a medial line and to bring togetherthe two halves of the web preparatory to forming a strip of connectedbags. As herein shown the bag forming web may be drawn over the memberI6 by gripping and advancing mechanism, indicated generally at I8, andwhich is operative to advance the strip one bag length each cycle ofoperation of the machine and to present the strip in operative relationto bag sealing mechanism 20.

'I'he bag sealing mechanism may comprise a pair of cooperatinghorizontally reciprocal L- shaped sealing members 2I, 23 one or both ofwhich may be heated and which are arranged to simultaneously seal thestrip along a transverse zone 22 and an adjacent longitudinal zone 24during each sealing operation to form a succession of connected bagsections, closed on one side by the folded edge 25. and heat sealedalong successive zones 22, 24. Upon sealing a bag section along thetransverse and longitudinal zones as above described, provision is madefor introducing a predetermined amount of the commodity, such as tea,through the open edge of the web and between the fold of a partiallyformed bag section. The bag filling mechanism, indicated generally at2S, is operative to deposite successive charges of the commodity intosuccessive bag sections in timed relation to the operation of the stripadvancing and heat sealing mechanism.

As herein shown, the `lling mechanism includes the hollow forming andfilling tube I6, having one end extending into a bag section, a feedhopper 3B provided with a reciprocating plate 32 having an opening 34which, in operation is arranged to be moved into a position to presentthe opening 3d into alignment with the lower end of the feed hopper 30to receive a charge of tea and to be thereafter moved to present theopening over the funnel portion I1 of the tube I6 into which themeasured quantity of tea falls by gravity.

In the operation of the machine, the open top of a bag which has beenprovided with a charge of the commodity during one cycle of operation,is closed during a succeeding sealing operation. Thereupon, the strip isintermittently advanced to bag severing mechanism, indicated generallyat 28, which operates to sever the strip through successive transversesealed portions to form individual filled and sealed bags.

In accordance with the present invention provision is made forincorporating a handle comprising a string and tag to each bag duringthe formation of the bags in strip form, as above described. As hereinshown, and in accordance with the present method, a continuous length ofstring til is unwound from a roll 42 thereof and led through a hollowshaft M, upon which an inserting member or arm 6 is mounted, and thencethrough an opening 48 extending through the inserting member 46. Asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, provision is made for rocking theinserting member 46 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 topresent a portion of the strand of string leading therefrom, between thesides of the web or strip and in operative position to be engaged byupper ends of the vertical legs of the L-shaped sealing members 2 i, 23,which correspond to the portion of the web which the transverse orhorizontal legs of the L-shaped sealing members will engage upon asubsequent sealing operation after the web has been advanced 'a distanceof one bag length. After the string portion has been sealed in and thestrip has been moved one bag length as described, the member B6 isrocked to the full line position illustrated in Fig. 1 to present thelength of string leading from the sealed portion into operative positionto tagging mechanism indicated generally at 50, adapted to attach a pairof spaced apart tags to the strand thus supported. At this time. thestring is arranged to be grasped at a point in the stretch of stringbetween the spaced tags by a pair of clamping jaws 52, 54 forming one ofa plurality of such clamping units, 56, carried by and movable with anintermittently operated chain 58. As herein shown, the chain 58 isarranged to run over sprockets 60, 62 which are suitably formed toaccommodate the links of the chain between the several clamping units56. The chain 58 is arranged to be intermittently operated in timedrelation to the movement of the web feeding mechanism I8 throughconnections including a pawl and ratchet drive 6d, the pawl carrier 65being rocked by a link 68 through connections to a cam, not shown.

It will be observed that the rst sealing operation to partially form abag section merely seals the portion 10 of the inserted string .into thelongitudinal edge of the strip. During subsequent movement of the strip,the unsealed portion of the inserted string follows along the innervertical edge 72 of the seal formed by the portion of the L extendingbeyond the sealed string and then assumes an angular position whilebeing extended to the tagging mechanism as shown in Fig. 1. At thistime, a second sealing operation which provides the transverse andlongitudinal seams for closing one bag section and partially forming asecond bag section, also operates to seal the remainder of the insertedportion of the string into the web. Since the sealed in string portionoccurs at the transverse seal connecting a pair of bag sections andextends angularly therefrom through adjacent longitudinal seams, thelengths of string extending from adjacent corners of the bag sectionsprovide individual strings for each bag upon subsequent severance aswill be described.

From the description thus far it will be seen that the inserted stringhas been completely sealed into the strip adjacent a transverse sealedportion and that the strand of string leading therefrom has beenprovided with a pairv of tags and the string has been grasped by aclamping unit E at a point between the attached tags. The strip is nowmoved a second bag length and simultaneously therewith, the clampingunit 5S is moved one bag length along with the strip. Thereupon, theinserting member i6 is again rocked into operative position to presentthe string into position to be again sealed into the web at a point twobag lengths distant from the previous sealed in portion, the diierentpositions of the parts and the sequence of operation being more clearlyindicated in Figs. 6 and 7. Thus, it will be observed that the strip ismoved two bag lengths for each inserting movement of the member [i6 toprovide two lengths of string each extending respectively from adjacentcorners of a pair of connected bag sections.

As illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the inserting member d6 is arranged tobe rocked to present the continuous length of string into predeterminedposition with relation to the sealing and tagging mechanisms by a camit, mounted on a vertical cam shaft 7S, and through connectionsincluding a cam lever 'i8 provided with a cam roll 8U, a link 82 and alever 86S fast on the hollow shaft @Il upon which the inserting memberi6 is mounted. A suitable spring, not shown, may be provided to retainthe cam roll 80 in cooperating engagement with its cam lll. The cam 'Mis designed to operate the inserting member 4B in timed relation to theoperation of the strip advancing, sealing, and tagging mechanisms toperform the operations as above described.

It will be observed that the feeding of the string is effected bymovement of the inserting member it@ and the clamping units 56. Duringthe backward or retracting movement of the member Mi, the string is heldin the sealed portion of the web so that upon movement of the web onebag length and retracting of the inserting member, the string is unwoundfrom the roll 02. Thereafter, the string is engaged by the clamping unit56 and upon downward movement of the latter and forward or insertingmovement of the member d6, the string is again unwound from the rollft2, the string passing through the hollow shaft it and 'opening 48 inthe member d6 as above described.

Suitable frictional means not shown may be provided on the roll M tomaintain the string relatively taut and to prevent an overdraft of thestring from the roll during the unwinding movement.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the tag attaching mechanism 5G includesprovision for feeding two strips of tags forwardly to present theendmost tags into operative position to the strand of string to whichthey are to be attached, for severing the endmost tags, and for staplingthe tags to the string. As heren shown, the strips a@ of tags areunwound from rolls 88 thereof and led through suitable guides 90, 92 andonto a reciprocative supporting and feeding plate Qt., The plate 9d isarranged to slide horizontally in a grooved supporting member 96 throughconnections including a closed cam 98, mountedon a vertical shaft 00, alever |02 provided with cam roll it, and a link |06 pivotally connectedto the underside of the feeding plate Ell. As best shown in Fig. 3, thestrips are fed forwardly with the plate 94 by the provision of flatspring members Hi8 by the plate and provided with points I lli arrangedto engage the notched portions H2 along the edges of the connected tags.In operation, during the retracting movement of the plate. the springmembers itt may ride over the notches and come to rest in a succeedingpair of notches to be fed forwardly during a succeeding forward movementci. the plate. In order to retain the strips in their forward positionand to prevent retracting movement with the plate, a pair of stationaryspring members llt are provided which engage successive notches l l2 inthe tags as they are fed forwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The forward movement of the slide plate 9G presents the endmost tags inoperative position with the relation to the strand of string beingsupported between the sealed portion of the web and the end of theretracted inserting member 456, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. At this timethe stapling heads H6, H8 which may comprise any usual and preferredform of stapling mechanism, may be operated to attach the tags to thestring thus supported. As herein shown, the dual stapling heads arecarried by the plate 965 and supported in a bracket l2!) pivotallymounted at E22. In operation, the bracket l2@ is rocked upwardly by aspring i213 during the inoperative period of the stapling mechanism soas to provide clearance for the member to be rocked to present thestrand of String over the tags. Thereafter, the dual stapling unit isrocked downwardly by a cam operated connection E26, continued movementof which operates the stapling mechanism through the linkage |28 in awell known manner. Simultaneously with the stapllng operation, the tagsevering mechanism, comprising a vertically reciprocated blade 83D, isoperated to sever the endmost tags from the strip. As illustrated inFig. 2, the blade is reciprocated by a closed cam l32, fast on the camshaft m0, through connections including a cam lever i3d, roller tt, linkl33 and bell crank lill). One arm M2 of the bell crank is slotted asshown to receive a roller IM supported in the upper end of the shearblade ISB so that in operation, rocking movement of the bell crank willeffect vertical reciprocation of the blade |30. y

From the description thus far it will be observed that the strand ofstring extending from the web and supported by the member d6 in itsretracted position, is provided with a pair of tags spaced a shortdistance apart. At this time the jaws 52, 5B of an adjacent clampingunit 56, are arranged to close upon and grip the string at a pointbetween the two tags. As best shown in Fig. 5, the string engaging facesof the jaws are cut at an angle to conform to the angular position ofthe string presented thereto. As illustrated in detail in Fig. 4, theupper jaw 52 is attached to the link M6 of the clamping unit by a bolt|48 so that the jaw 52 is relatively stationary while the lower jaw 5dis pivotally mounted at l5!) in the upper jaw. A rod |52 slidablymounted in the link M6 is provided with a coil spring |54 which bearsagainst the jaw 5d to normally hold itin its closed position. The otherend of the rod l52 is provided with a pair of rollers i56 which arearranged to cooperate with vertical cam faces l58 provided in ahorizontally reciprocal bracket i60 slidably mounted in guideways H62.In operation. the bracket |60 is in its forward position when theclamping unit is moved into operative position to the string so that therolls ISS do not engage the cam faces l58 atthis time, the jawsremaining in their closed position. Thereupon, the bracket |60 isretracted, the cam faces engage the rolls 656 and operate to pull thelower jaw open to receive the string. The bracket |60 is then movedforward to permit the lower jaw to yieldingly close upon the string asabove described. The bracket it@ is arranged to be reciprocated in timedrelation to the sequence of operations above described by a cam |64,fast on the cam shaft 1E, and through connections including a cam lever|65, roller ii and link |10, a suitable spring, not shown, operating tohold the roller |61 in cooperative engagement with its cam.

In the operation of the machine, after the tags have been attached tothe strand and the string gripped by the jaws as above described, thetag feeding and supporting plate 9@ is retracted thus leaving the tagssuspended from the strand as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The clamping unitsare then intermittently advanced with the strip of connected bagsections, as previously described, to present the endmost bag sectioninto operative relation to the severing mechanism 28 where the endmostbag section is severed through the center of the transverse sealedportion 22 by the shear blades |12, |14. At this time provision is madefor severing the strand between the tags and held by the clamping jawsE52, |54 so as to provide each bag with its individual string and tag.As illustrated in Figs. 4, and 6, a blade member |15 is arranged to bereciprocated in a slot |18 provided in the clamping jaws to perform thestring severing operation. The cutting blade |15 is formed on the end ofa rod |80 slidingly mounted in the link |46, a coil spring |82 beingarranged to normally hold the blade out in its inoperative position. Theoutward movement may be limited by a pin |84 extending from the rod |80and engageable with the link |1136. The outer end of the rod is providedwith a rounded cam engaging surface |86, and, as illustrated in Fig. 2,the end |86 is arranged to engage a cam surface |81 carried by a bracket|50', which, similar to the above described bracket |60, is arranged tobe horizontally reciprocated from the full to the dotted line positionillustrated in Fig. 2. Thus, during the movement of the clamping unit,the bracket |60 'rs disposed in its forward or dotted line position topresent the cam surface |01 in the path of the end |86 to effectmovement of the blade and severance of the string. Thereafter, thebracket |60 is retracted to eiect opening of the jaws, in the mannerabove described, to release the severed end of the string Whereupon thesevered bag section with its individual string and tag is permitted todrop by gravity onto a delivery belt |90.

The operations of handling the string, attaching the tag and attachingthe string to the bag may be summarized as follows: Assuming that theparts are in the position, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 7, withthe string inserted at a transverse portion and extended into operativeposition with relation to the tagging mechanism 50 and to a stringclamping unit 56, the tagging mechanism is now operated to attach a pairof tags to the extended strand of string and the clamping jaws 52, 561are closed upon the string whereupon the tagging mechanism is retractedand the strip together with the clamping unit 56 is advanced a distanceof one bag length, to present the parts in the position illustrated inFig. 8. In this position, the string inserting member i6 is moved tomove a portion of the string into the open edge of the strip to besealed. Thereupon the strip and the clamping units 56 are advancedanother bag length to again present the parts in the position shown inFig. '7, the member i6 being rocked to present the new strand of stringextending from the sealed in portion, into operative position to beprovided with a pair of tags.

It will be observed that the distance between clamping units 56 is equalto the length of two bag sections and that during successive operationsof the apparatus as above described, a plurality of loops is formed eachprovided with a pair of tags and extended from a sealed in portion to aclamping unit and then to a second sealed in portion located a distanceof two bag lengths from the first sealed in portion. It Will also beobserved that the sealed in portions occur at a point adjacent alternatetransverse sealed portions of the strip so that upon severance of thebag sections from the strip at the transverse sealed portions andseverance of the strand between adjacent tags, an, individual string andtag is provided for each bag. Thus, a single inserting operationprovides a handle comprising a string and tag for each of a pair ofadjacent bags thereby enabling the strip advancing and sealingoperations to be performed at their normal, relatively rapid rate ofspeed.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. In a method of producing bags each provided with a handle comprisinga string and tag, the steps comprising folding a web of bag formingmaterial longitudinally to form a strip open at one edge, sealing thestrip along spaced transverse zones and along the open edge to form aseries of connected bag sections, depositing charges of the commodityinto successive bag sections, introducing portions of a length of stringinto the open edge of the strip adjacent alternate of said transversezones immediately prior to the sealing operation, then sealing the openedge to seal such string portions into the strip and to form successivestrands extending between said alternate transverse sealed zones,attaching a pair of tags to each strand, severing the bag sectionsthrough said transverse Zones and severing the strand between said tagsto form indvidual bags each provided with a string and tag.

2. In a method of producing individual iilled and closed bags eachhaving a handle comprising a string and tag, the steps comprisingfolding a web of bag forming material longitudinally, sealing opposedportions of the web to form a series of connected bag sections, fillingthe bag sections with a commodity, introducing portions of a. length ofstring at spaced intervals along and between unsealed portions of thestrip prior to the sealing operation, then sealing the strip to sealsuch string portions into the strip, said string portions being insertedat a point in the strip to provide lengths of string extending fromadjacent corners of successive pairs of bag sections, continuations ofsaid lengths forming strands between successive sealed portions,attaching a pair of tags to each strand, and severing the strip to formindividual bag sections and severing the strands between said tags.

3. In a method of making bags each having a handle comprising a stringand a tag, the steps comprising folding a web of bag forming materiallongitudinally to form a web open at one edge, introducing portions of alength of string into the open edge of the strip at intervalscorreassente sponding to two bag sections, sealing the striptransversely and longitudinally to form a series of connected bagsections and to seal said string portions therein, depositing acommodity into successive bag sections prior to completion of thesealing operation, said string portions being sealed at a point in thestrip to provide lengths of strinfT extending from adjacent corners ofsuccessive pairs of bag sections, continuations of said lengths formingstrands between said sealed in portions, attaching a pair of tags toeach strand, severing the strip to form individual bag sections andsevering the strands between said tags.

4. in a, method of making bags of the envelope type each having a handlecomprising a string and tag, the steps comprising folding a web oi bagforming material longitudinally to form a strip open at one edge,sealing the web throughout two zones, one Zone extending transversely ofthe web and the other zone extending longitudinally of the web adjacentthe open edge to partially form a bag section, depositing a charge of acommodity into the bag section, introducing a portion of a length ofstring between the open edge prior to the sealing operation whereby toseal the string portion therein, advancing the strip one bag length andagain sealing the strip to close the rst bag section and to partiallyform a second bag section while extending the inserted string portion toform a strand, attaching a pair of tags to the strand, advancing thestrip a second bag length, introducing a portion of the extended strandinto the open edge of the web Aand performing another sealing operation,said inserted portions occurring adjacent alternate of said transversesealed zones and providing strands extending from adjacent corners ofalternate pairs of bags, and thereafter severing the bag sectionsthrough said transverse zones and severing the strands between said tagsto form individual bags each provided with its individual string andtag.

5. In a bag making machine of the type adapted to form individual lledand closed bags from a web of bag forming material, in combination,means for sealing opposed portions of the web at spaced transverse areasand along a longitudinal edge to form a series of connected bagsections, means for filling said bag sections during formation thereof,and means for associating a handle comprising a string and tag for eachbag comprising means for introducing portions of a length of string7between the opposed portions of the bag material prior to the sealingoperation to seal the string portions therebetween, said string portionsbeing inserted at a point adjacent alternate in at spaced intervals inthe web corresponding to two bag sections, the lengths of stringextending irom said inserted portions passing through adjacent cornersof a pair of connected bag sections and forming strands leading from onesealed in portion to the next, means for attaching a pair of tags toeach strand, means for severing the strip to form individual bagsections, and means for severing said strands be tween the tags.

7. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means forsealing opposed portions of a longitudinally folded web to form a seriesof connected bag sections, means for filling said bag sections duringformation thereof, means for introducing portions of a length of stringbetween opposed portions of the web prior to the sealing operation toseal such portions therein at spaced intervals corresponding to two bagsections in the web, means for extending the string between insertingoperations to form elongated strands, the lengths or string leading fromeach inserted portion passing through adjacent corners of a pair ofconnected bag sections, means for attaching a pair of tags to eachstrand, means for severing the strip to form individual bag sections,and means for severing said strands between said pair of tags to formindividual handles for each bag.

8. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means forforming a web of bag making material into the form of a strip closed atone edge and open at the opposite edge, means for sealing opposedportions of the strip throughout two zones simultaneously, one zoneextending transversely of the web and the other zone extendinglongitudinally along the open edge to form a bag section open at oneside, means for n lling said bag sections during formation thereof,

transverse sealed areas to form strands extending therebetween, meansfor attaching a pair of tags to said strands, means for severing thestrip through successive transverse sealed portions, and means forsevering each strand between the pair of tags.

6. In a bag making machine of the character described, in combination,means for supporting a longitudinally folded strip of bag formingmaterial. bag sealing means for forming a series of connected bagsections in the web, means for lilllng said bag sections duringformation thereof, and means for providing each bag with a handlecomprising a string and tag during the formation of the bag comprisingstring inserting means operative to insert portions of a length ofstring between opposed portions of the web prior to the sealingoperations to seal such portions theremeans for advancing the web onebag length to present the strip in operative position for a secondsealing operation to close the first bag section and to partially form asecond bag section, successive sealing operations forming a series ofconnected bag sections, means for inserting portions of a length ofstring into the open edge of the web at points adjacent alternatetransverse sealed zones prior to every second sealing operation to sealthe inserted portions therein, means for extending the string betweeninserting operations to form elongated strands, the lengths of stringleading from alternate transverse sealed zones passing through adjacentcor ners of a pair of connected bag sections, means for attaching a pairof tags to each strand, means for severing the strip through successivetransverse sealed zones to form individual bag sections, and means forsevering said strands between each pair of tags to form individualhandles for each bag.

9. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means forintermittently moving a longitudinally folded web of bag formingmaterial having an open edge. sealing mechanism for sealing opposedportions of the web to form a series of connected bag sections, a stringsupporting and guiding member, tagging mechanism operative to attach apair of tags to the string presented thereto, means for operating saidstring supporting member to present the string alternately first intooperative position with relation to the sealing mechanism to seal aportion thereof into the open edge of the web and then into operativeposition with relation to the tagging mechanism, said sealed in portionsoccurring at spaced intervals 1n the web corresponding to two baclengths, the lengths of string extending from said inserted portionspassing through adjacent corners of a pair of connected bag sections,means for severing the strip to form individual bag sections, and meansfor severing the string between said tags to form individual strings andtags for each bag.

l0. In a machine of the character described, in combination, means forintermittently moving a longitudinally folded web of bag formingmaterial a distance of one bag length each cycle of operation, sealingmechanism for sealing opposed portions ci' the web to form a series ofconnected bag sections, a string supporting and guiding member, taggingmechanism operative to attach 15 a. pair of tags to the string presentedthereto, means for operating said string supporting member to presentthe string alternately, first into operative position with relation tothe sealing mechanism to seal a portion thereof into the open edge ofthe web and then extended into operative position to the taggingmechanism. intermittently movable clamping means operative to grasp thestring to retain it in its extended position during subsequent movementof the web and the string guiding member, said sealed in portionsoccurring at spaced intervals corresponding to two bag lengths, thelengths of string extending from said inserted portions passing throughadjacent corners of a pair of connected bag sections, means for severingthe strip to form individual bag sections, and means for severing thestrip between said tags to form an individual string and tag for eachbag.

LEWIS B. EATON.

